The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-09-26

oMteu pthteh aImyt Dut very low Heen
to think, that ahow and brilliant appear
ance countG for much with volunteer
troops. To that opinion ! can make nc
better answer than to quote the language
OF Augustus D. ''Alyling, Adjutant Gen
eral oil New Hampshire, who In his report
o. May IL, 1887. to the Governor Of the
State, saya: "There is q growing Ten
dency on the part Of the States north and
south to keep up On efficient National
Guard, not for show, but for business, lc
discard the swallow tail coats, epaulets
plumea, etc., bnd adopt uniform mod.
eled after the United States pattern"
WEST yIRaISiA's NERDS. r.
| OF all the States that have organized
troops tho State Of Yves. Virginia has the
iewest In number, and Of present q Law
that will keep crushed tho military spirit
Of the people, who. II they properly TN.
dorsto0d the condition OF this State In
reference TO these matters, would DO will.
Ing Tor liberal appropriations to DO made
Tor tho maintenance OF a military force
that would place It on an honorable foot.
Ing with other States. 1t was nothing
short OF direct sacrifice OF time and
money upon the part OF the military OF
this State to attend the celebration In
Philadelphia, yet the young man who
tolls upon the farm and labors in tho shop
for bis daily bread, turned aside from
those labors for a time, put on bis uni.
form, haversack, knapsack and can.een,
shouldered his musket, and went 10 repre-
sent this Stair In the graudess celebration
on earth; tn! State, which in the Ian
Ruage OF the late tamented Charles James
Fsulked, was CAUSED ITO leap from the
glories and chaos Of civil war to place In
the constellation Of bright stars that be.
deck our asg." n =
The young aoldicry OF West Virginia
received pralsos from tho prsss Of Phila.
delphis, Wheeling, Cincinnati and the
local papara Of Richie county, Of which
they are justly proud, by reason Of their
efforts and gacrilces. The State Of West
Virginia nhould at least brush away tho
dust Of other years and assume a place
In keeping with her wealth and indus.
tries by placing good military law upon
hor statute hooks.
House Bill No. G5, which wss before tho
Legislature Of ito last session, II It had
passed, would have been good law. pro.
vldiuR for the reorganization Of The mill.
tia, State annual encsmpments, rations,
forage aud pay Tor troops while In camp;
alno transportation to and from camp. Ii
prescribed tho U. S. Army uniform, end
contained many provisions that 20 to
make up good and efficient military law,
II tslled to pass for teasons which the
writer does not care to state, and which
IRE Irrelevant to the purpoBes OF this arti.
Gle. We hope fo7 better things in the fu.
ture. apprshend the military spirit Of
the Young men OF Weat Virginia will no.
decline by lSSS, when, there is no doubt.
a salutary military law will be enacted by
the Legislature of this State.
The military Of West Virginia ieel
grateful to Governor Wilson and Adiutant
General Wood for their interest aud
efforts in behalf OF the passage Of Bill No,
10, and their substantial marks Of spprec:-
s!ion Of the companies Of this State.
II West Virginia had ak hundred men
the State would be entitled to its share Of
the National appropriation, which would
be something near 5000 per annum.
This would be 9 great help to the Stats,
and with come additional appropriations,
would maintain ct least two regiments
ready Tor service at oil timca. o,
10 BhoI that General Wood properly
appreciates the needs OF the organized
militia Of this State l quota the following
from his report for the years 1885 and
1856: ~ $500 =
1T cannot be expected that a thoroughly
efficient militia organization can exist, de-
pendent for support upon the resources Of
individual members and contributions BY
public spirited citizs1a. l. will not be
claimed that the State has q well. discip-
lined aoldiery; but the force it had up 10
the past few months was creditsb!e to the
self-sacriicing patriotism Of the militia-
men, and at the game timo an evidence Of
the need OF legislation upon the eubjec..
1t may eeem supe,tluous to urge on the
attention Of thinking men the Importance
Of maintaining militia organization; but,
i'll the light Of experience, deem no aug
gestion can make touching this sutjeci,
too strong. GNs=
The regular army Of the United States
is small. In case Of invasion or insurrec-
ton the government has to rely on yolun-
tesr5. Tho beat school ior forming col
diers, and the surost bulwa.k OF defonse
in q government like ours, ID in the mill.
tary establishments OF the States. The
ablest and most experienced officers Of
the United States army, as well az most
Of our wiseat statesmen, have Of late years
dons all in their power to encourage VOL
unteer State organizations" .g %
Those interested in the military affairs
Of West Virginia, and those who have &
psida for the State, should do everything
legitimate within thor power toward 60.
curing q etetute thst tendsto maintain the
peace and dignity OF The country, aacur.
Ing under authority Of the federal consti-
tgtion that recognized principle OF gov.
eminent tina! u we'll armed and regulated
militia is necessary to the security Of q
State, 5aa L. G. BENNINGTON,
RreHGE 9. e., ". Va, Sept. IS, 1857.
.f. H1roptc opunvcvv !, ~.